Auschwitz Trial Suspended for One Week; Interrupted by Carnival

February 11, 1964

FRANKFURT (Feb. 10)

The trial here of the 22 ex Nazi accused of participation in the murder of three to four million Jews in Auschwitz and the Birkenau gas ovens during World War II, was suspended this weekend until February 17. The court order the suspension due to the fact that nearly all government and business activities are slowed or halted at this time, while the Germans celebrate the annual carnival, a marathon gala event under to the Mardi Gras observed in New Orleans.

When the court, reconvenes, the trial will enter its ninth week. The proceedings are expected to last several months longer. Still unheard are about 250 witnesses summoned by the prosecution from the United States, Israel and other countries. Many of these are survivers of the Auschwitz concentration camp, and are expected to testify about specific acts of murder and torture by some of the defendants.